Milan: getting there via Malpensa and Linate, neighbourhoods, the Duomo, the Last Supper and costs in 2026

Short distances speak in Milan's favour: from the Duomo you can reach Brera, the Castello Sforzesco and Sant’Ambrogio on foot, and Linate airport is only 7 km from the centre. The city suits you if you want to see art and like to plan ahead. For Leonardo’s Last Supper, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 together with the church and convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and for the Pinacoteca di Brera you do need a reservation.

Since 1 April 2026 the tourist tax in a 5-star hotel has been €12 per person and night, according to a city decision. The city had expressly decided the rates from January for 2026 only. Since 1 August 2026 the last Malpensa Express trains to the airport have run every day, previously only at weekends. Since 27 September 2026 the Duomo Museum has been free on the last Sunday of the month.

Milan suits you less in winter and high summer. In January the Linate weather station counts on average a good 21 foggy days, and in July the daily maximum rises to 30 °C or more on 14 days (average 1971 to 2000).

Getting there and from the airport into the city

In 2025 Milan ranked 13th among foreign destinations from the main German airports: 1,254,097 passengers from Germany flew to Malpensa (677,217) or Linate (576,880), according to the German Federal Statistical Office. From Frankfurt and Berlin-Brandenburg more flew to Linate, from Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg more to Malpensa (our own evaluation).

Malpensa Express: 38 minutes from Cadorna, 53 from Centrale

Malpensa is 45 km from the city and has two terminals, between which, according to the operator SEA, a free shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes, at night every 30 (as of September 2026). The Malpensa Express stops at both. According to the Trenord timetable it takes 38 minutes from Cadorna to T1 and 53 minutes from Centrale; to T2 it is 6 to 8 minutes more (timetable June 2026, our own calculation).

During the day two trains an hour run to the airport from Centrale and from Cadorna each. The first leaves Cadorna at 04:26; since 1 August 2026 the last ones leave daily at 23:25 from Centrale and 23:26 from Cadorna. From Terminal 1 the first train to Cadorna leaves at 05:26, and the last daily ones leave at 23:41 for Centrale and 23:56 for Cadorna. At night Trenord also runs a bus at 01:30 to Cadorna. The times come from the Trenord timetable (as of June 2026); SEA gives some different ones.

The single costs €15, for children aged 4 to 13 €7.50, and a same-day return €25 (fare since 1 August 2025). Children up to age 3 travel free with a paying adult. With Pay&Go you tap a contactless card or smartphone on departure and on arrival. If you return the same day, the system automatically charges €25 instead of €30 (as of September 2026).

Bus and taxi from Malpensa

Four bus companies run between Malpensa and Milano Centrale, together about every 20 minutes. From Malpensa they run from 05:00 to 02:40, from Centrale (Via Sammartini) from 03:20 to 00:50, plus individual night services (as of September 2026). Malpensa Shuttle costs €10 into the city, €16 return (as of September 2026).

According to the airport operator SEA, the taxi costs a flat €114 to any address in Milan (as of September 2026). In the city the white licensed taxis mostly do not stop when hailed; you order them on 02 7777 or via the app “Milano in Taxi” (as of September 2026).

Linate (LIN): to the centre in 12 minutes on the M4

Linate is 7 km from the centre; with its own station on metro line M4 you are there in 12 minutes, according to the airport operator SEA (as of September 2026). From Linate Aeroporto the first M4 leaves Monday to Saturday at 05:40, on Sundays and public holidays at 06:00, and the last at 00:26 (ATM timetable, valid from 15 March 2026). At night the NM4 bus runs.

At the turnstiles you pay with a credit or debit card, smartphone or smartwatch; the journey costs €2.20 (as of September 2026). Buses to the Centrale main station take around 25 minutes (as of September 2026).

Bergamo (BGY): buses to Centrale

The city portal also counts Bergamo Orio al Serio among the Milan airports, 50 km from the centre. It is missing from the figures above: in 2025, 265,441 passengers from Germany flew there (our own evaluation). Buses from Autostradale, Flibco, Orioshuttle and Terravision run to Milano Centrale station (as of September 2026).

Where to stay: the neighbourhoods compared

For short routes to the airport, the stations count: the Malpensa Express stops at Cadorna, Porta Garibaldi and Centrale.

A dash means: the sources evaluated name no drawback.

Sights: times, prices and rules in 2026

Allow for the closing days: on Mondays the Last Supper, the Castello museums and the Pinacoteca di Brera are closed, on Wednesdays the Duomo Museum and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana (as of September 2026).

Duomo: terraces, combination ticket and free days

On the terraces stand 135 spires, and the highest accessible level is 45 m above the ground. You can go up on foot for €16 or by lift for €18, the Duomo and Duomo Museum cost €10, with half price for concessions in each case (as of March 2026). The lift goes only to the first level; further up and back down you go on foot. The “Combo Stairs” combination ticket with the Duomo, terraces on foot and museum costs €22 and is valid on the chosen day and the day after. It is open daily from 09:00 to 19:00, last admission around 18:00 (as of March 2026).

The Duomo Museum in the Palazzo Reale is closed on Wednesdays, otherwise it is open from 10:00 to 19:00 (as of September 2026). Since 27 September 2026 it has been free on the last Sunday of the month; you still have to book, at the earliest on the Tuesday before. There is also free admission to the Duomo and museum on 16 October and 4 November 2026 and on 2 February and 18 March 2027. For these too you need a booking, in each case from a week beforehand (“Milano al Duomo” campaign, as of September 2026).

Last Supper: tickets by reservation only

Leonardo da Vinci painted the Last Supper between 1494 and early 1498. Admission costs €15 from age 25, €2 for 18- to 25-year-olds, and nothing under 18 (as of September 2026). Everyone has to reserve, even babies. In the room you have 15 minutes, with at most 40 people per time slot. At the ticket desk you must be there at least 30 minutes beforehand, or the ticket expires.

Sales open quarterly, around three months in advance. Example: since 23 June 2026 at 12:00, sales have been running for September to December 2026. You may buy at most 5 tickets per calendar year. Tickets are named; at the ticket desk you show ticket and ID; date and time cannot be changed (as of September 2026).

It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 08:15 to 19:00, last admission 18:45 (as of September 2026). To get there, take the M1 to Conciliazione, the M1 or M2 to Cadorna, or tram 16 to S. Maria delle Grazie.

Castello Sforzesco: courtyards free, museums €10

The inner courtyards of the Castello are freely accessible daily from 07:00 to 19:30 (as of September 2026). A day ticket for €10, reduced €5, is valid for all museums, including the Egyptian gallery and the museum of Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini. Admission is free up to age 17, and for everyone on the first Sunday of the month.

The museums are closed on Mondays, otherwise open from 10:00 to 17:30, with tickets sold until 16:30 (as of September 2026). For the wall walkways you need a separate ticket at €10 (as of September 2026). To get there, take the M1 to Cairoli or the M1 and M2 to Cadorna FN.

Pinacoteca di Brera: €20 with Palazzo Citterio

The Pinacoteca is open Tuesday to Sunday from 08:30 to 19:15, last admission 18:00 (as of September 2026). The “Grande Brera” ticket costs €20, €4 for 18- to 25-year-olds, nothing under 18, and is valid for seven days from the day of the visit, also at Palazzo Citterio. You reserve the time slot via Brera Booking. On the first Sunday of the month admission is free, also with a reservation.

La Scala: museum with a view into the auditorium

The Museo Teatrale alla Scala is open daily until 17:30, with admission from 09:30 to 17:00; entry costs €12, reduced €8 (as of September 2026). From boxes in the third tier you look into the auditorium. If rehearsals, a performance or another event are under way, this view is not available.

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana: from 1 October one ticket with the crypt

At the Ambrosiana hang works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio and Botticelli (as of March 2026). The Pinacoteca and San Sepolcro Crypt open daily except Wednesdays from 10:00 to 18:00 (as of September 2026). From 1 October 2026 the Ambrosiana sells the Pinacoteca and crypt only together, at the full price of €20, plus a €1.50 advance booking fee if you reserve.

Day trip to Como: 40 minutes from Centrale

Trenord regional trains run without changes from Milano Centrale to Como S. Giovanni in around 40 minutes, roughly hourly from 06:43 to 21:43. From Milano Cadorna it is around 60 minutes to Como Lago. The single costs from €5.40 in each case (as of September 2026).

Best time to visit: Milan's climate month by month

The basis is the climate normals for 1971 to 2000 from the Milano/Linate station at the airport (107 m), published in the climate atlas of the Italian Air Force weather service.

In July and August the daily maximum rises to 30 °C or more on average on 14.0 and 12.1 days respectively. October is the wettest month at 122.4 mm, and May has the most rain days at 8.9. In January the station counts 21.4 foggy days and 18.0 frost days. Passengers from Germany flew to Milan most often in September and May in 2025, and least often in January (our own evaluation).

Costs

Tourist tax: up to €12 per person and night

You pay the tax from the first night, per person and night, directly at your accommodation (as of September 2026). According to a decision of the city government of 12 February 2026, these rates have applied since 1 April 2026 for the rest of the year:

• Hotels: €12 with 5 stars, €10 with 4, €7 with 3, €4 with 2 and €3 with 1 star
• Holiday apartments, short-term rentals and B&Bs: €9.50, youth hostels and camping €3

The city had expressly decided the rates from 1 January for 2026 only (announcement of 13 November 2025). The basis was a decree-law of 29 October 2025 for municipalities within 30 km of Olympic competition venues. In 2025 the rate was still €7.00 in a 5-star hotel and €6.30 in B&Bs (rates from 1 January 2025). Two adults pay €60 for three nights in a 4-star hotel (our own calculation). According to the city's page, minors under 18, among others, are exempt (page as of January 2025).

Practical information

Public transport: ticket, day pass or tap your card

An ATM single ticket costs €2.20 and is valid for 90 minutes from validation, including for several metro journeys. The day pass costs €7.60, the 3-day pass €15.50 (as of September 2026). Children under 14 travel free; ID is enough.

Instead of buying a ticket, you can pay contactlessly at gates and readers with Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Maestro or VPay, also via Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. In the metro you check in and out with the same card, otherwise it costs an extra €1.30 in Milan (as of September 2026). Each card is valid for one person; this payment is not valid on S-Bahn and Trenord trains.

City Pass and museum card

The YesMilano City Pass costs €39.90 for 24 hours as the “Flash”, €60 as the “Standard” and €90 for three days as the “All Inclusive”. All include public transport and Duomo services, the “Standard” among other things the terraces and the Castello museums, the “All Inclusive” additionally the Scala museum and the Ambrosiana (as of September 2026). The Last Supper is not included at any level (our own check). The Tourist Museum Card for €20 opens all the city's museums on three consecutive days, once each.

By car: Area C

Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 19:30, a congestion charge applies for entering the centre (Area C), but not on public holidays (as of September 2026). The day ticket costs €7.50 and must be activated on the day of entry or by midnight on the following day (as of September 2026). If you have forgotten to pay, you have 7 days to buy a retrospective ticket at €22.50.

Money, time, emergencies and rules

In Milan you pay in euros, in cash or with the usual credit cards. Tipping is not compulsory; around 10% is usual for good service. You do not change your watch: Italy uses CET and daylight saving time as Germany does. In an emergency dial the Europe-wide, free 112, for the medical emergency service 118 (as of September 2026).

Outdoors you may smoke on streets and other public spaces only where 10 m distance from others is possible; e-cigarettes are exempt (as of September 2026). The water from the public drinking fountains, the “Vedovelle”, is safe to drink, according to the city portal.

What currently applies for entry, safety and health can be found on the Italy page of the German Foreign Office.

Who this is not for

• If you calculate extra costs tightly: According to a city decision, the tourist tax has cost €9.50 in a B&B and €12 in a 5-star hotel per person and night since April 2026.
• If you land at Malpensa and are in a hurry: The airport is 45 km out, the train takes 38 to 53 minutes, and the taxi costs a flat €114 (as of September 2026).
• If you are looking for sun in winter: In January the Linate station counts on average 21.4 foggy days and 18 frost days (1971 to 2000).
• If you want to see the Last Supper spontaneously: Nothing works without a reservation, and sales open around three months in advance.
• If you want to drive into the centre: Monday to Friday, entering Area C costs €7.50 a day (as of September 2026).